Risk of Death Tripled for Depressed Stroke Survivors

People who are depressed after a stroke may have a tripled risk of dying early and four times the risk of death from stroke than people who have not experienced a stroke or depression, according to a new study.

“Up to one in three people who have a stroke develop depression,” said study author Amytis Towfighi, M.D., with the University of Southern California and Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center in Los Angeles.

“This is something family members can help watch for that could potentially save their loved one.”

The study included 10,550 people between the ages of 25 and 74, who were followed for 21 years.

Of those, 73 had a stroke but did not develop depression, 48 had a stroke and depression, 8,138 did not have a stroke or depression, and 2,291 did not have a stroke, but had depression.

After the researchers considered factors such as age, gender, race, education, income level and marital status, the risk of dying from any cause was three times higher in individuals who had stroke and depression compared to those who had not had a stroke and were not depressed.

The risk of dying from stroke was four times higher among those who had a stroke and were depressed compared to people who had not had a stroke and were not depressed.

“Our research highlights the importance of screening for and treating depression in people who have experienced a stroke,” said Towfighi.

“Given how common depression is after stroke, and the potential consequences of having depression, looking for signs and symptoms and addressing them may be key.”

Related Articles

Janice Wood

Janice Wood is a long-time writer and editor who began working at a daily newspaper before graduating from college. She has worked at a variety of newspapers, magazines and websites, covering everything from aviation to finance to healthcare.